Germany's Bethlehem manages to introduce yet another term to the already fragmented metal scene. Calling themselves 'dark metal', the band delivered an esoteric philosophical type of doom metal that only gained more followers with all the deaths (real and imaginary) that followed the band.
Dictus Te Necare means 'Kill Yourself.' The band releases another EP later called Reflektionen Auf's Sterben (Reflections On Death) which featured several reworkings and older tracks with new names. The band has endured much censorship from venues/cities not allowing the band to play, parents threatening the band, Adipocere not printing lyrics to a song like 3rd Nocturnal Prayer and on to Red Stream having to alter the album photos to get the CD plant to press the album. The band, however, uses such news to further promote itself: for a while the band corroborated the suicide news of its former lead singer Classen. Classan would later re-appear in Dark Creation alongside drummer Ralf!
2001's Schatten Aus Der Alexander Welt is more off beat industrial than metal. In June of 2002 the band announces it will not be participate at the Full Force Festival because one of the members suffers from a heart disease.
Bethlehem members spent the summer of 2002 working on Suicide Radio which is an interactive CD-ROM.

BETHLEHEM - SCHATTEN AUS DER ALEXANDER WELT - RED STREAM
Bands and labels should have mercy upon writers and journalists. What would be great is a life line. Give us something with which to work. This album is a two-disc set where one is the album proper and the second 'diverse bonus tracks by several BETHLEHEM members.' I want to hear from people who are fans of Bethlehem and from people who buy this. What is it that the rest of us are missing? Shadows From the Alexander World is a compilation of slow beats, a drum machine and dismal melodies. There are curious odds and ends, out-takes, radio dial static (also depicted on the CDs), a couple of Ministry-inspired industrial beats and even listen to the 2:30 mark of track thirteen to hear an Offspring riff on the bass! The doll from the Solefald CD (also recently seen on the December Wolves CD) also makes a guest appearance on the cover. Schatten Aus Der Alexander Welt is two of the most abstract CDs of all time.